Disappointing Astros dismiss Cooper

After a monthlong stay in a rehabilitation facility to address substance abuse and other issues, Michael Beasley rejoined his Heat teammates in a voluntary offseason workout in Miami. “We’re 100 percent behind him,’’ said coach Erik Spoelstra, who met with Beasley three times during his rehab in Houston. “We’ve invested in him, not just financially but emotionally. He’s ready. He was excited to be back here.’’ Beasley, who starred at Kansas State for one season before leaving as the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft, was not available for comment . . . Diana Taurasi scored 30 points and keyed a tiebreaking run in the fourth quarter that helped the Phoenix Mercury advance to the WNBA semifinals with a 100-92 victory over the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Injuries ended the seasons of major contributors on two Top-10 teams. Second-ranked Texas lost middle linebacker Jared Norton to shoulder surgery, while No. 8 Boise State will be without running back D.J. Harper because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. In addition, Sean Lee, star linebacker for No. 5 Penn State, is day to day with a sprained left knee and Michigan (No. 23) center David Molk is out 4-6 weeks after surgery for a broken foot. Texas coach Mack Brown said he expects Norton, who had six tackles in the Longhorns’ season-opening win over Louisiana-Monroe, to apply to the NCAA for a medical redshirt to get another year of eligibility. Harper has rushed for 292 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries . . . Former Buckingham, Browne and Nichols star Adam Farkes, who transferred from Maine to Texas A&M-Commerce after last season, passed for a school-record 447 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday’s 76-56 loss to Eastern New Mexico . . . Weekend victories boosted UMass (2-1) to 15th and Holy Cross (3-0) to 21st in Sports Network’s Football Championship Subdivision poll. New Hampshire (2-0) remains the top-ranked New England team at No. 6 . . . Harvard soccer captain Andre Akpan was named national player of the week after scoring twice as the Crimson (5-0) beat Fairfield, 4-1, Saturday . . . Gary Williams, beginning his 21st season as men’s basketball coach at Maryland, received a contract extension through 2013.

Leaving the bench after teammate Kyle Okposo was KO’d by Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf in Thursday’s exhibition game has proved costly to the Islanders’ Pascal Morency. The league suspended the New York forward for the remainder of the preseason and five regular-season games for earning a game misconduct penalty and precipitating a brawl . . . Rangers forward Sean Avery missed last night’s 4-2 exhibition win over the Red Wings because of a knee injury sustained during the morning skate . . . Second-round draft pick Ryan O’Reilly signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche.

Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star Herschel Walker, 47, who holds a fifth-degree black belt in taekwondo, signed a multifight contract with mixed martial arts promoter Strikeforce and will begin a 12-week training camp next month in San Jose, Calif. . . . Also eyeing the fast-growing sport is former welterweight and super welterweight boxing world champion Ricardo Mayorga, who is seeking release from his contract with promoter Don King and anticipates his first MMA fight early next year . . . Only weeks after compatriot Kim Clijsters ended 2 1/2 years of retirement by winning the US Open, former top-ranked player Justine Henin will announce her return to competitive tennis today, according to Belgian newspapers La Derniere Heure and Le Soir. Henin, 27, was still ranked No. 1 when she announced her retirement last year and became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF . . . Jockey Winston Thompson registered his 3,000th career victory, guiding African Angel to victory in the eighth race at Suffolk Downs.